Portable receptacle



Filed Aug; 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1934- R. HERRMANN PORTABLERECEPTACLE Filed Aug. 10, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 13, 1934UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to portablereceptacles, and has particular reference to traveling cases such asthose used as traveling kits.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed having a plurality of containers associated in an improvedmanner With a wall element and in movable relation thereto whereby inthe closed position of the device, a compact relatively rigid case isprovided, and in the open position thereof, the

device is so disposed that the contents of the container are readilyavailable and may be conveniently positioned in a stabilized manner on,a table or the like, with the containers held in 'upright position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the nature setforth including a plurality of containers and an intervening in-,terconnecting wall element so that in open position the contents of thecontainers are readily and conveniently available, the Wall elementholding for immediate access various articles supplemental to those inthe containers, with ,the entire device having a large supporting base,and the device being collapsible into relatively small compact positionas by movement of the containers into contact with the intervening wallto close the device.

Another object of the invention is the provi- 9 sion of a device of theclass alluded to wherein a wall element and one or more end containerstherefor are associated together in a resilient manner to facilitate theopening of the device and the maintaining thereof in open position.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a device of the typementioned having a plurality of preferably rigid containers hingedlyinterconnected by a Wall element for movement of the containers intoabutment with each other and with the Wall element, all in improvedrelation with each other.

Another object of the invention is to construct a device of thecharacter described including end containers and an interveninginterconnecting wall element arranged in an improved manner with respectto the containers so that the device is collapsible in varying degreesso as to have supporting base areas of varying sizes and with the wallel ment being adapted to carry different articles.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the natureset forth having relatively few and simple parts and which isinexpensive to construct, convenient in use, neat and compact inappearance, durable, reliable and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification proceed's.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention 7 consists in thenovel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described intheir preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, andillustrated in the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designatedby the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawings: a r

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a device embodying the invention, inthe closed position thereof.

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the device inthe open position thereof.

Fig; 3 is a longitudinal diagrammatic sectionview taken on the line 33of Fig. 4, with parts omitted.

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the device shown- The advantages of theinvention as here outlined are best realized when all of its featuresand instrumentalities are combined in one and thesame structure, but,useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obviousto those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, that the same maybe incorporated in several differentconstructions. The accompanying drawings therefore, are submitted-merelyas showing the preferred exemplification of the invention.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes a device embodying theinvention. In closed position, the same is of compact regular form andmay be generally rectangular. It will be noted that this device includesa plurality of containers 11, 12 in abutment with each other along atransverse upright plane 13, and the container 12 having a flap 14secured to the container 11 by suitable releasable fastening means 15.

Each of the containers 11 and 12 may be a duplicate of the other, ifdesired, except that the container 12 is provided with the flap 14having a snap fastener element 15 for snap fastener engagement with thestud 16 of the container 11.

Each of the containers is provided with a bottom wall 17, side walls 18and 19, and exactly similar end walls 20. The containers are elongatedand of preferably rectangular form and extend in generally parallelrelation to each other, each having a top opening 21 in the openposition of the device. openings, the contents of the containers arereadily available as will be conceived from the drawings, but in orderto facilitate access to Through such top Ill the containers as, forexample, to articles which may be disposed at the bottoms of thecontainers, openings in the side walls 19 may also be provided.Desirably the side walls 19 may also be provided with undercuts such asshown at 22 so as to afford side openings which face each other andwhich are in registry and in continuous communication with the topopenings 21.

In the open position of the device, the containers 11 and 12 are spacedat a considerable distance from each other. Intervening between thecontainers is a bottom wall element or flap means 23 which may besuitably reenforced as desired, and which may be hingedly connected tothe lower portions or bottoms of the respective containers as alongparallel hinge lines 24. The width ofthe wall element 23 may bev equalto the length of the individual containers, and the length of the wallelement may be such that the containers are foldable over upon the wallelement so as to lie with their top openings 21 in registry with eachother and with the free edges of the walls 20 and 21 in abutment witheach other along the plane 13 as shown in Fig. 1. By thus swinging thecontainers toward each other and downward with respect to the bottomWall element 23 into the closed position, it will be perceived 'that the.top openings of the containers are closed by interengagement of thecontainers and that the side openings are closed by the bottom wallelement.

1 A feature of the invention, therefore, is the simultaneous closing oftop and side openings of a plurality of containers by a simple swingingmotion or movement of containers with respect to each other and to aninterconnecting element without requiring the manipulation of specialflaps or other closure devices, although the latter may of course beprovided.

1 The bottom wall element 23 may be adapted to carry various articlesand consequently may have a pouch 25 for the reception of a nail file, askeleton pocket 26 for the reception of a mirror, and a sleeve-likeholder 27 for the reception of a comb. The members 25, 26 and 27 areintended to beillustrative merely, and may, however, be omitted orreplaced by other members, it being sufficient to indicate thatpreferably the element 23 may be used as a display holder or support forarticles that may be supplemental to those positioned in the containers11 and 12. The containers may have articlessuch as shaving, cosmetic,hair treating, or other toilet articles.

In order to assure that the bottom wall element 23 may operate as anadequate closure for the side openings of the containers 11 and 12, andalso as a safe container portion for the articles received in themembers 25, 26, and 27, the containers 11 and 12 are preferably providedwith side extensions such as 28 that face each other. These 7 extensioncompartments or rigid portions may be-produced by prolonging the endwalls 20 of the different containers toward each other along the planesof said end walls, as shown at 29. The extensions 28 are rigid and equalin height with the end walls 20, although of greater height than therigid walls 19, and are relatively narrow so as to provide onlysufiicient space to accommodate the members 25, 26, and 27 together withthe articles that may be held thereby,

It willnow be seen that on moving the containers into closed position,the vertical free edge portions of the wall element 23 so as to providea relatively narrow closed compartment which is continuous for thelength of the bottom wall 23 between the hinge lines 24 and between thewalls 19 and the wall 23. The walls 19 in the closed position lie in aplane, and although they provide an opening between each other, this isimmaterial, it being sufficient that the compartment thus providedbetween the walls 19 and 23 is otherwise completely closed.

While different parts of the device may be flexible and other partsrigid, the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates that thecontainers 11 and 12 and the wall element 23 shall be wholly rigidthroughout. Consequently in the closed position of the device as shownin Fig. 1, a strong reliable protective container is afforded, themutually abutting containers 11 and 12 being well adapted to take up anystresses that might be exerted thereon, and the wall element 23 servingas a strong reenforcement for the containers. The embodiment of theinvention may be constructed of various materials, for'example, leather,rubber, or fabric, and reenforcements of any desired character may beemployed, such as cardboard, wood, metal, or composition material.

In Figs. 3 and 4 are shown elements in the construction of the device.Thus the containers 11 and 12 may be formed essentially of box-likestructures 30, while the bottom wall element may consist of a stripmember 31 extending continuously not only between the boxes 30, but alsounderneath the same as shown at 31a and upward along the outer sidesthereof as shown at 32. In this manner the expense of manufacturing thedevice may be greatly reduced, and a very neat continuous edge may beafforded for the case as shown at 33 in Fig. 1.

To cause automatic opening of the device upon release of the fastening15, resilient elements may be employed between the end containers andthe intervening bottom wall. For example, leaf springs 34 may overliethe thickened strongly reenforced part of the wall 31, and may besecured thereto as by rivets 35, and extend thence between the wallportion 31a and the overlying bottom portion 36 which together mayprovide the bottom wall 17 hereinbefore referred to. It will now be seenthat the leaf springs 34 tend to move into the position shown in Fig. 3to open and maintain the device in open position. In order to close thedevice the end containers are swung toward each other and downward aboutthe hinge lines 24 as aforesaid, thereby flexing the springs 34 intoright angle positions.

The wall portions 32 together with the adjacent side wall portions 37provide the side walls 18 hereinbefore. mentioned. The different partsof the device including the springs, 34 may be completely covered bysuitable linings which thus conceal the rivets 35 and also the rivets 38that connect the leaf springs to the container bot toms 36. The liningsmay function as reenforcements for the device and in this respect thesprings 34 may also operate as reenforcements to tend to preventseparation of the boxes 30 from the wall element 31a.

It will be noted that since the wall element 23 rests on the same planeas the container bottoms, its weight will not affect the containers, andnevertheless possible outward tilting of the positioned thereon.

containers will be effectively prevented by said wall element, much moreeffectively than if the wall element were connected to the containers ata substantial height above the bottoms. Then again, any downwardpressure that might be exerted on the element in inserting or removingarticles from the display holders 25, 26, 2'7 will not cause; tilting ofthe containers but will be taken up by the common supporting plane. Anadditional feature is that the spaced walls 18, i9 reenforce andmaintain the end walls 20 parallel so that the projections 29 willalways accur ately abut the wall element when the device is closed.Should the wall 19 be of lighter material than the wall 18, any bellyingof the wall 19 by pressure in the container will be taken up in the siderecess of the container, and uniform close contact of projections 29 andthe wall element 23 permitted. Not only does the wall element maintainthe containers in alinement due, to its rigidity, but it also assuresaccurate and complete closing of the recesses to furnish thecompartments for the holders 25, 26, 27; the rigid wall 23 also coactswith the outer walls 18, which are continuously extended and connectedwith the end walls up to the tops of the containers, and whereby awholly rigid and completely closed receptacle is afforded. It is seenthat all of these features cooperate to furnish a novel, improved deviceof distinctive character.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification of the invention embodied in a device39 which may in all respects be similar to the device 10 except that theflap 14 is omitted, and a flap arrangement substituted therefor which isdirectly connected to the intervening bottom wall element 23a. Thusflaps 40 and 41 may be connected to the element 23a along fold lines 42,other fold lines being provided in the flaps so that in the foldedposition of the containers shown in Fig. 1,

the flaps may be swung from opposite directions over the containers withthe sections 44 of the flaps between the lines 42 and 43 overlying theend walls of the containers. The flap 40 may have a stud 45 and the flap41 may have a socket 46 for releasable fastening interengagement in thewell known manner to hold the device 39 closed. The springs 34 may ormay not be used in the devices 10 and 39.

small supporting area is available, the device may be partiallycollapsed as shown in Fig. 6 with the element 23?) neverthelessfunctioning as a display holder for the articles adapted to be Obviouslythe element 231) may be folded to a greater or less extent about thetransverse hinge line 48. In order to close the device 4'7, the same maybe operated for movement into either of two different positions.

For example, the containers 11 and 12 may be I be swung over the top ofthe containers for releasable interengagement of the fastener elements49. As thus closed, the top openings of the container are closed by theflap 14a, and the side openings of the containers are closed by theintermediate element 23b. The device 4'7 will then have a form differentfrom that of the device shown in Fig. 1 so as to be adapted to fit adifierent space or compartment in a trunk or valise. However, if it bedesired that the device 47 shall, in closed position, assume the formshown in Fig. 1, it is merely necessary to flatten the element 23b intothe bottom plane of the device, whereupon the flap 14a may be foldedover the container 11 in the same manner as the flap 14 and with itsfastening element 49 releasably engageable with the fastener element 50on the container 11. In order that the element 231) shall snugly hug'the adjacent sides of the containers 11 and 12 in this closed position,it is desirable that the hinged connection at 48 shall be such as to berigid against any hinged movement of the element 23?) away from thecontainers 11 and 12'. In other words, the radius of movement of thehinge connection at 48 is limited to 180. I

It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications may bemade in the device as shown in the drawings, and that the same issubmitted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense, the scope ofthe invention being efined in the following claims.

I claim: 7

1. A portable receptacle including a plurality of elongated rigidcontainers each having bot-.

'tially parallel relation to each other, a bottom wall element extendingbetween and permanently hingedly interconnecting the bottoms of thecontainers and being of sufficient length so that the containers arefoldable along said hinge lines to lie with their sides against thebottom wall element and with their open ends in register with eachother, said bottom wall element resting on the same plane with thecontainer bottoms in the said open position so as to tend to maintainsaid bottoms in flat resting position on said plane, and means formaintaining said containers in said overlying relation.

2. A portable receptacle including a plurality of elongated containerseach having bottom walls and side and top openings, said containersbeing spaced apart with their side openings facing each other, saidcontainers having end and outer side walls defining the top openings andbeing continuously interconnected up to the top openings, a bottom wallelement disposed substantially in the plane of the bottom walls of thecontainers and having permanent hinged connection therewith, said bottomwall element being of suflicient length so that both containers areswingable about the hinge connections to rest on the bottom wall elementwith their top portions including the end and outer side walls inabutment with. each other and with the bottom wall element acting as aclosure for the side openings, and means for securing the containerstogether to maintain the same in said overlying relation to the bottomwall element.

3. A portable receptacle including a'plurality face each other beingundercut to provide openings, the'outer side walls and the end wallshaving their upper edges defining top openings for the containers andbeing continuously interconnected up to said top openings, acontinuously rigid bottom wall element extending between and hingedlyconnected to the containers at the inner bottom edges thereof so as torest with the containers on a common plane, said element being extendedthe length of the containers and the containers being foldable downwardtoward each other about the hinge connections to closely overlie saidelement in con tact therewith and with said top and outer walls inabutmentwith each other, and a flap connected to the outer side wall ofone of the containers and adapted for releasable connection with theouter side *wall of the other container, said flap lying wholly on aside of the infolded containers opposite to said element.

4. A portable receptacle including a plurality of parallel rigidcontainers, each of said containers having a bottom, side and end walls.the side walls that face each other being spaced inward of the edges ofthe end walls to provide side recesses facing each other, each of saidcontainers having a top opening, and a plane rigid wall means hingedlyconnected to the containers at the bottoms thereof, said containersbeing foldable about the hinge connections downward against said wallmeans with the'said end wall edges abutting said wall means to form saidrecesses into compartments, and the outer side walls and the end wallsabutting each other edge to edge to close the said compartments and saidtop openings, and said rigid wall means holding said containers inabutting relation with each other.

5. A portable receptacle having a plurality of upright spacedcontainers, a continuously rigid wall element extending therebetweensubstantially along the plane of the container bottoms and beinghingedly connected to the individual containers,rso that the containersare adapted to fold about the hinge lines upon said wall element, withthe latter extending substantially in a plane along corresponding sidesof the containers, and a flap extending along the opposite sides of thecontainers and releasably inter- 'engaging the containers, and resilientmeans acting between the containers and the wall element for throwingthe containers into open upright position.

6. A portable receptacle including a plurality of spaced uprightcontainers, said containers having side walls and end walls having edgeportions projecting toward each other beyond the side walls to providerecesses, a wall element hingedly interconnecting the containersadjacent to and in the plane of the bottoms thereof so that thecontainers are swingable about thehinge connections downward and towardeach other to lie with said edge portions in bearing relation to thewall element, means for releasably maintaining said containers in theswung position, article holding members on said wall element to liewithin said recess, said wall element having a central fold line betweenthe hinge connections so that the wall element is f oldable upon itselfwith the containers dis posed in upright position, said containers beingadapted to rest against the sides of the folded wall element, and saidmeansbeing. adapted'to releasably maintain the containers against saidsides of the wall element.

7. A portable receptacle including a plurality of rigid containers lyingedge to edge along a plane, a continuously rigid reenforcement. walllying along a side of the containers and hingedly connected thereto atthe container edges remote from each other, said containers beingotherwise separate of each other, means releasably connecting thecontainers together against movement away from the said wall, so thatthe latter constitutes a means for maintaining the containersalong saidplane, the containers being swingable upward and away from each other soas to be adapted to rest in upright position with the said wall lying inthe plane of the container bottoms to stabilize the containers, andmeans on said wall formounting articles in display position thereon.

8. A portable receptacle having a plurality of rectangular containersadapted to rest on" their individual bottom walls in upright spacedparallel relation to each other, said containers having rigid side andend walls continuously interconnected to and being open at the top, aplane rigid plate extending between the containers in the plane of thebottom walls thereof so as to rest with said bottoms on said plane, andbe ing hingedly connected to the adjacent edge portions of the bottomwall, said containersbeing swingable about the hinge connections to restin alinement with each other upon the rigid plate with said openings inregister with each other so that the containers abut and close eachother, said rigid plate maintaining the containers in said alinement inthe closed position, and the outer side walls affording a substantiallycontinuous, rigid wall structure on the side of the receptacle oppositeto said rigid plate, and means to releasably prevent relative movementbetween the containers and said rigid plate.

9. A portable receptacle having a plurality of spaced parallelcontainers havingrigid side, end and bottom walls and being open at thetops thereof, the outer sidewalls and the end walls of the containersbeing continuously interconnectedup to the tops of the containers,

the inner side walls being spaced inward of the adjacent edges of theend walls to provide recesses, a plane rigid wall element hingedlyinterconnected with the bottom portions of the containers so as to reston the same plane with said bottoms, said wall element being of suchlength that the containers are foldable about the hinge connectionsdownward against the wall element with the edges of the container wallsin abutment with each other to close the container openings, said edgesof the container end walls abutting said wall element so that saidrecesses constitute compartments, means secured to said wall element forholding articles in display and in housed positions in the open andclosed positions, respectively, of the receptacle, and means forreleasably holding the containers together in folded position,

sidewalls of the containers.

ROBERT -HERRMANN.

